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(No Model.)

J. M. LAFLIN.

EXERGISING APPARATUS.

N0. 298,392. Patented May 13, 1884.

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5o the clutching lever and shoes.

Unirse SlrAfrss PATENT Ori-eres.

JOHN M. LAFLIN, OF NEWT YORK, N. Y.

EXERCISING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,392, dated May 13,1884.

Application filed September 26, 1853. (No model.)

To @ZZ wiz/0711, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. LAFLIN, a citizen of the United States,andaresident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ExercisingApparatus, of which the following is a specication.

My improvement relates to the patents granted to me June 29, 1877, No.192,271, and May 30, 1882, No. 258,773.

My improved apparatus, when properlyr rigged, may serve as a rowingapparatus, which may be used in private houses, in a parlor or bedroom,or in gymnastic halls, Snc.; but instead of using rubber or spiralmetallic springs which extend or contract, or coil-springs which coiland uncoil, to give resistance to the oar, as in my former patents, Iprovide on the outer end of the outriggers a friction clutchingdevice,with a protruding lever for the reception of either Indian clubs,base-ballclubs, orsome other similar devices which can be readilydetached when desired. The amount of pressure required for resistance tothe oar is adjusted by the friction-band, and when returning after thestroke thereis no elasticity to the springs to draw the oar back, asformerly, but requires the operators to rest their hands on same andpush them back in asimilarmanner to ordinary rowing. The protruding endsof levers allow the oars to be feathered or turned one-fourth revolutionat each stroke. I also provide a counter or registering device attachedtothe under side of the friction appliance in a convenient position tobe seen by the operators, and affording them a chance to keep a recordof their performances, the dial being operated by the iriction-wheel,andcalculated from the time and distance of a professional oarsman, and onerevolution of dial is equivalentto one-fourth of a mile. The counterbeing simple,with but few parts, there is no danger of getting out oforder, and is perfectly noiseless and positive in movements.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents plan view ofthe entire apparatus. Fig. 2representsplan of cap or cover inverted, showing Fig. 3 shows plan with coverremoved, showing manner of applying the friction-band. Fig. 4 representselevation in section on line x, Figs. 2 and 3.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

A is frame or body of machine; B, outriggers fitted into iron sockets Con the outside of frame A; D, seat; E, foot-rest; F, frictionclutchentire, and .secured to the outer end of Outrigger; G, Indian club oroar.

The friction-clutch F is composed of several parts, as shown in Figs. 3,4, and 5, in which a is a small pulley or wheel turned true on theperiphery, around which the friction-band b, with its lining c ofleather, rawhide, or other suitable materiahis securely attached byrivets or bolts, one end of said'band being ixed to the pin d andwrapping around the pulley a, the other end having a threaded rod andthumbnut, e, which extend through the lug or projection f, and bytightening or slacking the nut e any desired tension may be obtained.The pulley c is secured to the case g by the center bolt, h, and sleeveh', and revolving freely around the latter, the said sleeve eX- tendingthrough the cap or cover j, above which the washer 7c is fitted, andbinds the sleeve h rmly to the case y by bolt h, but allowing the pulleya and cover j to move freely in any direction. The cover 9' is providedwith rim l, extending down over the pulley a, and on the inner side ofsame are two projections or bearing-lugs, m, (shown in Fig. 2,) fittingand bearing on the periphery of the pulley, while on the opposite sideof the cap j is a protruding case, a, in which the lever o is pivoted,and thebearing-shoe p. The center r of the sheep is in direct axial linewith lugs m m. The leverbeing fulcrumed at s on one side of the center,any pressure applied to the lever o will cause the strain to act directacross the center ofthe pulley. The end of the lever o extends beyondthe case aand is fitted to the oar G.

'Io prevent too much lost motion to the oar G, I put a smallthumb-screw, a, in the case a back of the lever o, the point of which engages with lever o, and can be adjusted as desired.

The counter consists of a toothed wheel, g,

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suspended under the rim of the pulley a by a bracket, t, with pointer y,and is secured to the bottom of case g by the nut of the bolt h.

The toothed wheel q or dial is operated by a rib or vein, w, on theunder side of the rim of the pulley a engaging with the teeth of thedial q, and moving the dial one tooth at every revolution of the pulleya by means of the rib fw which extends part way around the pulley, butis set eccentric with the line of movement of the pulley a. The dial ofthe counter is graduated by the record ofprofessional oarsmen atthirty-two strokes per minute, hence one revolution of same isequivalent to onefourth mile.

In order to operate the machine, the oar (the base of which has beenpreviously lined with a metallictube to prevent excessive wear, which isrepresented in my aforesaid patent of 1882) is placed on the protrudinglever o and drawn forward in direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, whichforces the shoe p against the periphery ofthe pulley a, and,drawing thelugs m m against the opposite side, grips or clutches the pulley firmlyand revolves said pulley. At the same time the amount of pressure isregulated by the thumb-nut e on friction-band b. Then the forward strokeis finished and the motion of the oar reversed,the lever pivots on thefulcrum-pin s until engaging with thumb-screw u, releasing the shoe pand lugs m on, which allow the capj to move back with the oar freely,while the pulley a remains still, retained by the friction-band b. Thenthe backward stroke is finished, the aforesaid operation is repeated forthe forward stroke.

The feathering of the oar is accomplished in the same manner as in mypatent of 1882.

There are several advantages gained in using friction over all otherdevices heretofore or now made. First, the pressure on the oar is thesame at start as the finish of the stroke, which is more natural;second, there are no springs to break or lose their elasticity; third,there is no noise, and, being simple in constrnction,there is nothing toget out of order. As the most wear is on the lining of thefriction-band, I prefer to use rawhide, as it will wear for a long timeand is not expensive to replace. Any other material may be used, or

Aeven metal; but it is preferable to use material which will not abradeor cut.

Thus it'fwill be seen I have a machine simple in construction, strong.durable, and positive in its movement, fulfilling all the require mentsof such machines, and in all its movements similar to ordinary rowing.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

l. In an exercising apparatus with outriggers B, the friction-wheel a,cap j, with rim l, lu'r s m on, shoe p, and lever o, substantially as,for the purpose specied.

2. In an exercising apparatus with outriggers B, the friction-wheel a,with rib or vein w on .the rim thereof engaging with the toothed wheel qof a counter, substantially for the purpose described.

3. In an exercising apparatus with outriggers B, friction-wheel a, capj, rim Z, lugs m m, shoe p, lever o, rib or vein w, and tooth-wheel q,all constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as described andshown.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 24th day of September, A. D. 1883.

J. M. LAFLIN.

YVitnesses:

BENJN. A. DARE, CHRIsTIAN XVEBER.

